BLOODLINE by Jess Lourey

SYNOPSIS:

Perfect town. Perfect homes. Perfect families. It’s enough to drive some women mad…

In a tale inspired by real events, pregnant journalist Joan Harken is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she’s eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” couldn’t be more inviting.

And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village.

The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan can’t shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold the town in thrall. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows.

Her fiancé tells her she’s being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.

MY THOUGHTS: 

This is my second novel by Jess Lourey. I look forward to more.

This book is excellent. It reminds me in many ways like a cross between The Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby. Not a demon baby at all though. Just something about the characters and setting. The way the people of Lilydale act. The way the women behave. The way the men are the big bad bosses dominating every aspect of lives. 

This story is full of a lot. So much is going on and there are quite a few characters. But it's easy to keep them apart. It's easy to know who to trust and who not to trust. There is a lot. Kidnapping, arson, incest, drinking, insurance fraud. It's a lot to take in but it makes the story so much better. There is no graphic scenes to follow so remember that.

This is the story of a young woman who falls in love with a younger man. Who is mugged and stabbed. A pregnant young woman who wants to feel safe again. It's the story of Joanie and Deck. Two young people starting out in life in his hometown. The safest place in Minnesota. Or is it?

This book had me hooked from the beginning. It's told from the start of Joanie's new life in Lillydale and in her life after her baby is born. What she goes through. How she manages. What she has to do. How her best friend betrays her yet regrets it later. How she befriends the women in this town and starts accepting the things she has no control over. What a mother will do to survive. To keep her child safe. 

This is a very well written book. You will despise some of the characters. You will love some. But you will root for Joanie. That is just one you can't help. Joanie is a journalist who needs to find her story. Her story that will launch her career. Her story that will keep her safe.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JessLourey, #Thomas&Mercer for this ARC. This is my review as I see this book.

5/5 stars and a very big recommendation. Enjoy!